Commercial Business Development Director

Overview:

If you're looking for the stability of a profitable, growing company with the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup, we’re hiring. SageSure, a leader in catastrophe-exposed property insurance, is seeking a rockstar, highly-motivated, experienced, and polished Commercial Business Development Director to drive the growth of our Commercial Insurance business. This role is pivotal in expanding our market presence, building strategic partnerships, and capitalizing on opportunities within the commercial insurance sector. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a strong background in commercial insurance and business development, and thrives in a collaborative environment with significant freedom to act, maintains a passion for driving growth, has established connections across our markets, and is comfortable working closely with executives.

What you’ll be doing:

Strategic Partnership Management: Forge and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the insurance industry, including brokers, agents, carriers, and industry associations. Utilize these connections to cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships that drive sustained growth.

New Business Acquisition Strategy: Identify and target prospective clients aligned with SageSure's commercial insurance offerings. Develop and execute targeted strategies to secure new business partnerships and expand the commercial program.

Strategic Opportunity Identification: Conduct market research to discern emerging trends, potential partnerships, and growth opportunities within the commercial insurance sector. Translate findings into actionable insights to shape strategic business development plans.

Negotiation and Contract Oversight: Lead negotiations with potential partners and clients to secure favorable terms and agreements in line with company objectives.

Pipeline Management and Reporting: Track and manage the business development pipeline, providing regular updates to senior leadership on progress, challenges, and opportunities. Implement strategies to overcome obstacles and facilitate deal closure.

Industry Expertise and Adaptation: Stay informed of industry developments, regulatory changes, and competitive trends to proactively adjust strategies and offerings, maintaining SageSure's competitive position.

SageSure Advocacy and Alignment: Engage with partners to ensure alignment on strategic priorities, risk management, growth opportunities, and operational efficiencies.

We’re looking for someone who has:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, or related field. Master's degree is a plus.

Minimum 7 years of experience in business development within the insurance industry, with a focus on commercial insurance.

Established network of contacts within the insurance industry, including brokers, agents, carriers, and industry associations.

Proven track record of exceeding targets and driving business growth.

Strong understanding of commercial insurance products (particularly BOP & Property), market dynamics, and regulatory landscape.

A polished professional with exceptional executive presence, skilled in representing our organization at the highest levels and adept at influencing outcomes and fostering strategic relationships.

Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Strategic mindset with the ability to manage complex situations and develop innovative solutions.

Self-motivated, results-driven, and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Ability to lead through change and promote a culture of adaptability and continuous improvement across the team.

Acts as a steward of financial targets, aligning departmental objectives and priorities with organizational needs.

Defines the strategic vision and effectively articulates it via short and long-terms plans.

Actively engaging with industry peers and thought leaders, showcasing SageSure's expertise, fostering partnerships, and staying informed about industry trends.

Proficiency in CRM software (Salesforce).

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite with emphasis on PowerPoint.

Ability to travel up to 30%.

Highly preferred candidates also have:

10+ years of experience in insurance.

Experience with Salesforce CRM.

Experience with DOMO or other BI tools.

Relevant industry certifications (e.g., CIC, CPCU) are advantageous.

About SageSure:

As a Best Places to Work in Insurance Recipient for four years in a row (2020-2023), SageSure, one of the largest residential property insurance managing general underwriter (MGU) in the United States, is pioneering ways people protect their American Dream.

A leader in catastrophe-exposed property insurance, SageSure was founded in 2009 to deliver reliable products, exceptional customer experiences, and strong underwriting results in challenging insurance markets. SageSure currently operates in 14 states and provides home, flood, and commercial coverage on behalf of its highly rated carrier partners.

We have more than 600 employees working remotely or hybrid in one of our eight offices—Jersey City, NJ; Mountain View, CA; Chicago, IL; Tallahassee, FL; Cincinnati, OH; Houston, TX; Mt. Laurel, NJ; and Cheshire, CT—who are tackling the industry’s toughest challenges.

We provide generous health benefits and perks, including tuition reimbursement, wellness allowance, paid volunteer time off, a matching 401K plan, and more.

SageSure is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the spectrum of perspectives, experiences, and abilities of the world we live in. We recognize that our differences make us strong, and we actively seek out diverse candidates through partnerships with organizations, institutions and communities that represent various backgrounds. We champion belonging and inclusion for all identities, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, ability status, gender, and country of origin, striving to create a culture where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

Our nimble, highly responsive culture nurtures critical thinkers who run toward problems and engineer solutions. We relentlessly pursue better outcomes by investing in the technology, talent, and tools that position us to succeed in demanding markets. Come join our team! Visit sagesure.com/careers to find a position for you.